Methods, devices and systems for real-time instant presence with advertisement (RIPA)

ABSTRACT

Methods, devices and systems for Real-time Instant Presence with Advertisement (RIPA) using an instant messaging topology with wireless technology to instantly setup and update of presence information of an instant messaging user. The invention provides location information of a business and other business information to a wireless instant messaging user/customer of the business, and obviates the need for the users/customer to manually enter presence information of the business. The invention further provides methods for promotion, advertising and network marketing of a business using presence information sent to instant messaging users and instantly propagated through instant messaging address lists.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The current invention relates to methods, devices and systems for“instant messaging” and advertising, and is particularly related tomethods, devices and systems for providing presence information withadvertising to instant messaging users.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The explosive growth of the Internet and wireless communicationin recent years has led to a commensurate growth in the number ofInternet users using “instant messaging” to communicate in real-timewith other Internet users through wired and wireless means. “Instantmessaging” (IM) refers to a service and software that enables a user tocreate a private electronic “chat” over the Internet, or other suitablenetwork, in order to communicate in real-time with another user.Wireless mobile communication has also experienced explosive growth ascellular telephones and other wireless devices and related services havebecome less expensive for the consumer. Increasingly, service providersof cellular telephones and other portable wireless devices have suppliedservices and devices to provide wireless Internet access. One suchpopular device is the PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) which is a small,hand-held computer device used to write notes, to maintain anappointment calendar and an address book. Services such as instantmessaging, once available only to wired Internet users in their homesand offices, have become available for users of such wireless devicesallowing instant messaging communication in real-time even while mobile.

[0003] In order to facilitate communication with other instant messagingusers, instant messaging service providers and instant messagingsoftware typically provide the capability for a user to maintain aprivate address list of other instant messaging users. This address listis essentially a list of contacts stored in an electronic address book.Known instant messaging services typically provides features that alertan instant messaging user to the status of users who appear on theaddress list. Such status information is commonly referred to as“presence” or “presence information”. Presence commonly refers toinformation about the state of an instant messaging user, for instance,whether the user is present and available to receive instant messages.If an instant messaging user is not available for instant messaging(e.g. offline) then known instant messaging services provide thecapability for other instant messaging users to send a text message tothe unavailable user. Systems provided by such services may also providethe capability for an instant messaging user to manually input otherinformation as part of the presence information and make it available toother users. The capability to manually designate presence informationin order to enable or disable (e.g. “busy”) receipt of instant messagesor other data, may also be provided.

[0004] A drawback associated with known methods and systems for instantmessaging is that presence information is not updated instantly withlocation information. Location information includes information aboutwhere the instant messaging user is situated. This information may beuseful for a user who wants to provide information about the user'scurrent location to other users. A feature to show a user's location(e.g. for a mobile user) as part of their presence information istypically not provided or requires cumbersome manual input. PDA wirelessdevices, for example, typically require the user to input locationinformation manually by touching the PDA screen with a pointing-typedevice. One typical PDA pointing-type device is a “stylus” which iscapable of selecting a letter, symbol, graphical pattern, elements of agraphical pattern, or other menu item. A drawback with the use ofconventional cellular telephones with Internet capability is therequirement to enter information through use of a numeric keypad fordata entry.

[0005] A problem with these manual methods is that updates to thelocation part of the presence information are not done instantly andautomatically. The known methods, devices and systems require asignificant effort for the user to continually manually update his orher location information as it changes throughout the day. The manualmethods are cumbersome, time consuming and prone to error, even in viewof advancements in artificial intelligence that reduce manualkeystrokes.

[0006] The known methods are especially burdensome for mobile users whoaccess instant messaging through a wireless device while traveling. Aproblem for mobile users is that the ability to manually inputinformation into a wireless device is limited by the inherentcharacteristics of being mobile. Mobile users who travel, for instance,are restricted in the ability to do manual entry by movement. For thedriver of a vehicle, having to do manual entry on a wireless device is amajor distraction and may violate legal prohibitions against drivingwhile distracted. Thus, there is also a need to automatically update thelocation information for an instant messaging user.

[0007] Furthermore, due to the inherent limitations of manual input ofpresence information and the limited text input capability, knownmethods and systems also do not provide updated and detailed presenceinformation. Another problem contributing to these shortcoming is thatknown methods require the instant messaging user to determine thelocation information to be entered as part of the presence information,and to manually update the location information when moving to a newlocation. For the known methods, unless a first instant messaging usermanually enters the location information and location details, a secondinstant messaging user who has the first user on their address list willnot receive the detailed location information for the first user; andwill not be instantly updated when the location of the first userchanges. Since such manual methods may be burdensome or impossible toperform, an instant messaging user may be presented with incomplete,outdated or inaccurate location information for the presence informationof other users on their address list. Therefore, there is a need formethods and systems for an instant messaging user for providing andupdating their location information for their presence informationinstantly, with less distractions, more accurately, and with more usefullocation information (e.g. addresses, directions, links to maps, etc.).

[0008] Another drawback with known methods and systems is that instantmessaging services lack services that generate real revenue by providinga beneficial medium for targeted advertising to offset the cost ofproviding the service. Advertising that is conventionally available toinstant messaging users fails to take full advantage of theopportunities for a business to conduct targeting advertising andpromotion to wireless instant messaging users. Another problem is thefailure to provide a method for a business to take advantage of networkmarketing to instant messaging users who may not have visited thebusiness but have an instant messaging user on their address list whohas visited the business (e.g. a customer). Another drawback of knownmethods is that adequate information may not be obtained and provided toa business in order to assess the effectiveness of the advertising,promotions, and network marketing of the business.

[0009] Instant messaging users represent a potential advertising marketfor businesses to tap. For known methods, advertisements may appear onthe Internet browser or instant messaging screen that is displayed foran instant message user. The effectiveness of this type of advertisingis related to the number of potential customers who view the advertisingand whether the viewers would be interested in the product or servicethat the business provides. A drawback with known methods of advertisingby a business to instant messaging users is that such methods may beonly marginally effective where the users or the other users on theiraddress list have no prior connection, relatedness or familiarity to thebusiness which could attract the users attention. Non-targeted ads maybe also an annoyance to an instant messaging user, especially to awireless instant messaging user who has a small display viewing area onthe wireless device. Non-targeted advertising also contributes toadvertising clutter and wastes valuable bandwidth.

[0010] An instant messaging user may be more likely to trustrecommendations received from other user who are on their address listregarding businesses the other users patronize. A user/consumer usuallyhas a certain degree of similarity with their acquaintances, such asages, location, interest, taste, etc.

[0011] Therefore, there is also a need for methods and systems foradvertising that use instant messaging and presence information toprovide the ability for businesses to send targeted advertisements towireless customers and other visitors, and to instantly propagate suchadvertisements to a network of people.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0012] The aforementioned drawbacks associated with known methods,devices, and systems are overcome by the present invention.

[0013] An object of the present invention is to provide methods andsystems for Real-time Instant Presence with Advertisement (RIPA) usingan Instant Messaging (IM) topology and wireless technology toautomatically setup and instantly update an instant messaging user'spresence information. A further object of the present invention is toinstantly provide location information as part of the presenceinformation. A still further object of the present invention is toinstantly provide advertising along with the presence information and topropagate the information to other instant messaging users.

[0014] Another object of the present invention is to provide a methodfor wireless promotion, advertising and network marketing of productsand services of a business to instant messaging users who visit thebusiness, (e.g. a customer), and to other instant messaging users whohave the visitor on their instant messaging address list. A furtherobject of the present invention is to provide alerts to an instantmessaging user regarding special promotions from businesses that theuser or those on the user's address list visit.

[0015] A further object of the present invention is to provide forinstant automatic updating of the location information part of aninstant messaging user's presence information without the user having tomanually input or select the information.

[0016] A further object of the present invention is to provide amethodology of acquiring statistics of advertisement efficiency foradvertising directed toward instant messaging users through the use ofaddress lists of instant messaging users. Another object is to providethis statistical information to the advertiser and service provider.

[0017] Another object of the present invention is to provide a methodand system for sending dynamically updated promotions to instantmessaging users.

[0018] These and other objects are realized by the present invention,which, in its basic form comprises a method of establishing presenceinformation for a first instant messaging user. The present inventionalso entails a business client system for sending presence informationthrough wireless communication to a wireless device of an instantmessaging user who is present at the business. In another aspect, thebusiness client system receives user profile information from theinstant messaging user who is present at the business. In oneembodiment, the business client system transmits business information aspart of the presence information. In another aspect, the businessinformation transmitted includes location information. In anotherembodiment, the business information includes promotional information ofthe business. In one embodiment, the business information includes anadvertisement for the business. The present invention also entails aninstant messaging client method installed in an instant messaging userdevice for receiving and processing presence information from a businesslocation. In one aspect, the instant messaging client provides fortransmitting of information from an instant messaging user to thebusiness client system. In another aspect, the instant messaging clientsystem provides for receiving the presence information of a firstinstant messaging user who has been placed on an address list of asecond instant messaging user. In a further aspect, the presenceinformation includes information about a business that the first instantmessaging user visits.

[0019] The present invention also entails systems and methods foracquiring statistics of advertisement efficiency for advertisingdirected toward instant messaging users through the use of address listsof instant messaging users. In another embodiment, a method and systemfor transmitting dynamically updated promotions to instant messagingusers is provided.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] The aforementioned and related advantages and features of thepresent invention will become apparent upon review of the followingdetailed description of the invention, taken in conjunction with thefollowing drawings, where like numerals represent like elements, inwhich:

[0021]FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of the existing conventionalsystem architecture which may be used to practice the present invention;

[0022]FIG. 2 is a functional flow chart of an embodiment of the presentinvention.

[0023]FIG. 3 is a flow diagram depicting the process steps and systemsof the preferred embodiment of the present invention by way of anexample of a beneficial use of the present invention.

[0024]FIG. 4 is a diagram depicting an example of instant messagingaddress lists for the preferred embodiment of FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0025] The present invention is designed to provide methods, devices andsystems for using an Instant Messaging (IM) topology with wirelesstechnology to instantly setup and update an instant messaging user'spresence information to include location information for the location ofthe instant messaging user. The present invention also provides forpropagation of the presence information that includes locationinformation through an instant messaging user address list. The presentinvention also provides a method for wireless promotion, advertising andnetwork marketing of a business to instant messaging users.

[0026] The present invention will now be described with reference toFIGS. 1-4. The present invention will also be described by way of anexample of a beneficial use of the present invention that overcomesdrawback of the present methods; however, the present invention is notlimited to the example.

[0027]FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of the existing conventionalsystem architecture which may be used to practice the present invention.The components of the exemplary architecture 100 includes an instantmessaging server (IM Server) 302 connected to the Internet 104 via line106. The present invention assumes the instant messaging users have anInternet service provider that provides a connection to the Internet104. FIG. 1 shows various exemplary devices a user may use to connect tothe Internet 104. The devices include a desktop personal computer (PC)108 and portable computer 112 connected to the Internet 104 via TCP/IPlines 110 and 114 respectively. The portable computer 112 is also shownoptionally connected to a wireless Network 118 for connection to theInternet 104, shown on line 119. A wireless Network 118 is also shown toprovide a TCP/IP connection 121 to a PDA 120. A typical PDA stylusdevice is identified as 136 and is used for selecting elements on atouch screen of the PDA 120. FIG. 1 also shows PDA 120 connected to theInternet 104 via a TCP/IP connection on line 122. A PDA 120 can alsohave cellular telephone capability, although in FIG. 1 a “Cellular”telephone with Internet capability is identified as 124 in FIG. 1, andshown separately.

[0028] Manual entry on the PDA 120, using either a keyboard or thestylus 136, or on Cellular phone 124, using a keypad, has the drawbackof being cumbersome and time consuming. Exemplary protocols “i-Mode” and“WAP” are shown on line 128 for connecting Cellular phone 124 towireless network 126. Any suitable protocol can be used and are known tothose skilled in the art. The wireless network 126, as shown in FIG. 1,is connected via line 130 to a gateway 132 which connects to theInternet 104 via line 134.

[0029] The devices for the underlying existing architecture for thepresent invention are not limited to those shown. Any suitable devicewith the capability to provide instant messaging over the Internet canbe used, as is known in the art.

[0030] FIGS. 2-4 show embodiments and aspects of the present invention.The existing system architecture of the Internet and instant messaging,as shown in FIG. 1, may be used to practice the embodiments shown inFIG. 2-4, as described herein. It is assumed for purposes of theinvention that the instant messaging users have service providers thatsupply an Internet connection.

[0031]FIG. 2 is a functional flow chart 200 of an embodiment of thepresent invention. The business client (“RIPA”) device of the presentinvention is identified in FIG. 2 as 210. An exemplary business, isidentified as 202 in FIG. 2 is also shown as a store/restaurant/hotellocation. However, business 202 is not limited to these types ofbusinesses; business 202 can be any suitable business that can practicethe present invention. For this overall flow chart 200, the business 202inputs business information 204 into the business client (RIPA) device210. The business 202 preferably inputs the business information 204 ofthe business at the business 202 location or remotely using any suitablemeans. The business client (RIPA) device 210 stores and processes thebusiness information which can include, but is not limited to, one ormore of the following: an introduction and description of the business,the business address and phone number, and other advertising andpromotional information. The business client (RIPA) device 210, isplaced on the business 202 premises by the business 202 owner and ispreferably near where visitors and customers of the business would passby or be present.

[0032] In the exemplary embodiment of the present invention a user 214has a wireless device, shown as 208 in FIG. 2. The instant messenger “IMclient” of the present invention, identified as 212, has previously beeninstalled into the wireless device 208. In operation, the RIPA device210 communicates with the wireless device 208 of the user 214 when theinstant messaging user 214 is present at the business 202 premises andthe wireless device 208 is within range to communicate successfully withthe RIPA device 210. The RIPA device 210 engages in wirelesscommunication with a wireless device 208 of user 214. The RIPA device210 may send information to the user 214's wireless device 208 and mayreceive information from wireless device 208 along a path shown as 206.Exemplary wireless communication protocols “irDA, Bluetooth, etc.” areshown for communication between the RIPA device 210 and a wirelessdevice 208, any suitable wireless protocol can be used and are known tothose skilled in the art.

[0033] Typically, user 214 would be in the business 202 premises, learnthrough by some type of promotional sign or other means that thebusiness 202 has the capability to communicate from the RIPA device 210to the user wireless device 208. User 214 may have a choice as towhether to enable the wireless communication 206 to the user 214'swireless device 208 or the user 214 may agree to automatically allowcommunication between RIPA device 210 and user device 208.

[0034] The installed IM client 212 of the present invention, among otherthings, enables instant messaging user 214's wireless device 208 to havethe capability of receiving information from the RIPA device 210 andsending information to the RIPA device 210. Exemplary devices forwireless device 208 are shown in FIG. 2; any suitable device capable ofstoring and executing an installed instant messenger client 212 of thepresent invention can be used.

[0035]FIG. 3 is a flow diagram of the process steps of the preferredembodiment of the present invention by way of an example of a beneficialuse of the present invention. FIG. 3 also illustrates embodiments of thesystems and devices of the present invention. For the process steps ofthe preferred embodiment of the present invention method is also shownin FIG. 3, reference numerals 1-11 represent Steps 1-11 described below.

[0036]FIG. 3 shows a business, identified as 202. Business 202, which isidentified in the example in FIG. 3 as “Pasta House”, is shown as beinglocated on the premises; wherein the business and premises (location)would both be identified as 202. The present invention is not however,limited to businesses where the premises are co-located with thebusiness 202.

[0037] In Step 1, the business (Pasta House) 202 sets up the businessclient RIPA device 210 by inputting business information 204. Thebusiness 202 preferably inputs the business information 204 at thebusiness 202 location or remotely using any suitable means. The businessinformation 204 may include, but is not limited to, one or more of thefollowing: an introduction to the business, a description of thebusiness, an advertisement, a special promotion, and the address andphone number of the business 202 location and other suitable relatedinformation (e.g. email address and web site address).

[0038] At Step 2, an instant messaging user 214, identified as “John” inFIG. 3, has entered into the business location 202, identified as “PastaHouse” and has in his possession a wireless device 208. The instantmessenger “IM client” of the present invention, identified as 212, haspreviously been installed into the wireless device 208 of user (John)214. In operation, the wireless device 208 is within range forcommunication with the RIPA device 210; or user (John) 214 may move thewireless device 208 within range. User (John) 214 may previously consentto automatically receive communication from a RIPA device 210 to hiswireless device 208 as part of an agreement that accompaniedinstallation of the IM client 212. In the preferred embodiment, forprivacy reasons, user (John) 214 is required to take some step (e.g.click a key on the device) to enable his wireless device 208 to accepttransmissions from a RIPA device 210. The enabling of the wirelessdevice 208 may occur before user (John) 214 enters the business 202premises.

[0039] In operation, once instant messaging user (John) 214 has enabledwireless communication, the RIPA device 210 transmits businessinformation 204 to his wireless device 208. This wireless transmissionfrom the RIPA device 210 to wireless device 208 is by wirelesscommunication using a wireless protocol. Exemplary wirelesscommunication protocols include “irDA” and “Bluetooth”; any suitablewireless protocol can be used and are known to those in the art. Thebusiness information 204 sent from the RIPA device 210 is processed bythe IM Client 212 installed in wireless device 208 of user (John) 214,and thereby sets the location for the presence information of user(John) 214 to be the business (Pasta House) 202 location.

[0040] In order to do instant messaging, instant messaging user (John)214 is required to enter and store a user profile 318 in his wirelessdevice 208. The user profile 318 contains contact information such asinstant messaging user name and email address. At Step 3, user (John)214 may consent to transmit his stored user profile 318 to the RIPAdevice 210. Business 202 may provide some type of promotional incentiveto instant messaging users in exchange for their consent to transmit theuser profile. In operation, the RIPA device 210 receives a user profile318 and stores the user profile 318 into the business user database(user DB), as identified as 316 in FIG. 3.

[0041] For the example shown in FIG. 3, instant messaging user (John)214 has the IM client 212 of the present invention installed in wirelessdevice 208. As shown in FIG. 3 the IM client 212 maintains both the“presence” information and private address list 304 of user (John) 214.As is known in the art, an instant messaging service provider enables asubscriber to create an address list 304 that includes the identifiedinstant messaging “screen names” (also commonly referred to as Nicknames) employed by other instant messaging users with whom a subscriberwishes to communicate and displays the presence information of thosepre-selected users. The address list 304 for user (John) 214, in theexample shown in FIG. 3 includes Robert, Julie, Mary, Dana and Ally.

[0042] For Step 4, once the User (John) 214 receives his updatedpresence information in Step 2, the new presence information whichincludes location information (e.g. Pasta House) will be sent by the “IMclient” 212 of the present invention to the IM server 302 via theInternet 104.

[0043] For Step 5, the IM server 302 will notify one or more additionalinstant messaging users who have added user (John) 214 to their addresslist that there is an update for the presence information for user(John) 214. The IM server 302 will also send User (John) 214's updatedpresence information from the IM server user database (User DB) 310 tothe additional instant messaging users. FIG. 3 shows an additional User306, identified as “Robert”. The device of additional user (Robert) 306,is identified as 308 in FIG. 3. In operation, additional user (Robert)306 has previously installed the instant messaging “IM client” 212 ofthe present invention in device 308. Preferably, device 308 is awireless device, however, device 308 may also be a suitable wireddevice.

[0044] As shown in Step 6 in FIG. 3, device 308 of user (Robert) 306 maydisplay the updated presence information including location informationof user (John) 214. In the example in FIG. 3, the updated presenceinformation, including location information, is displayed as (“PastaHouse”) 202 logo or icon. User (Robert) 306 may select (e.g. click on)the new presence information (e.g. Pasta House icon) to get additionalbusiness information of the business 202 “Pasta House”.

[0045] For Step 7, when user (Robert) 306 clicks the presenceinformation of user (John) 214, the IM server 302 may also “push” apromotional information for the business (“Pasta House”) 202 to thedevice 308 of user (Robert) 306 wherein the information is processed byIM client 212.

[0046]FIG. 4 illustrates exemplary instant messaging address listsassociated with Steps 6 and 7. For the preferred embodiment, as shown inthe example in FIG. 4, the address list displays two columns, status 410and user “Nick name” 412. Nick name 412 is also commonly referred to as“screen name”, and identifies the instant messaging member of a user'saddress list. The information under status 410, in the example in FIG.4, is used to display presence information for each member of theaddress list. FIGS. 3-4 show only an exemplary address list display. Anysuitable address list display can be used.

[0047] The address list 402 in FIG. 4 shows the address list after Step6. In the example, under status 410 there is a status icon 406 “PastaHouse” which shows user (John) 214's presence information. At Step 7,for this example, when the icon 406 in 402 is selected, as shown by thearrow in FIG. 4, the IM client 212 of the present invention will updatethe address list 402 so that it is displayed as updated address list404. The updated presence information 408 for user John 214 is displayedin the updated address list 404. This updated presence information 408includes additional business information which may include, but is notlimited to, location name, location address, and promotional informationfor business “Pasta House” 202. As shown in the example in FIG. 4, thisupdated presence information 408 may be displayed in various ways whichmay include, but is not limited to, text, a rotating ticker, animation,images and internet links; any suitable display may be shown.

[0048] In Step 8, a statistics aspect is shown wherein, in operation,user (Robert) 306 selects the presence information for user (John) 214.Thereafter, the presence information of user (John) 214 may be sent tothe IM server 302 wherein the information is processed by suitable meansfor statistical purposes. A “click” statistics report may also begenerated by IM server 302, which contains statistics associated withthe selection of presence information by instant messaging users.

[0049] In Step 9, a “click” statistics report stored in IM server 302 issent to the business (“Pasta House”) 202. The reports can be at selectedintervals (e.g. weekly, monthly, or quarterly). The click statisticsreport is preferably sent to the business 202 via the Internet 104 asshown in FIG. 3, however, the report can also be emailed or sent inpaper form to the business 202.

[0050] In Step 10, if the business 202 has Internet access capability,the business 202 can send dynamic updates 322 with additional promotionor coupon information to the IM server 302 and maintained in thebusiness (database) DB 312 as shown in FIG. 3.

[0051] For Step 11, if the device 308 of user (Robert) 306 continues todisplay user (John) 214's presence information on device 308, then user(Robert) 306 can obtain the updated presence information for user (John)214. For another embodiment, user (Robert) 306 is presented with anoption to subscribe to additional information about the business (PastaHouse) 202 location in the presence information. If user (Robert) 306subscribes then user (Robert) 306 may receive additional promotionalinformation, that may include advertisements, that the business (PastaHouse) 202 transmits to the IM server 302 in the future to be maintainedin the business DB 312. User (Robert) 306 may receive these promotionsand advertisements even after the location of user (John) 214 in thepresence information is no longer set at business (Pasta House) 202.Thus, for this aspect, the promotions may continue to be sent to user(Robert) 306 independently of the current location information of user(John) 214 shown on the address list of user (Robert) 306. In anotherembodiment, the promotions of business 202 may also be sent to user(Robert) 306 even if user (John) 214 is not listed as a member of theaddress list of user (Robert) 306.

[0052] Thus, for the present invention, presence information is updatedinstantly. This overcomes the drawbacks of the manual methods byreducing the time and effort associated with manual entry of presenceinformation which is especially cumbersome for wireless devices withlimited manual entry methods and in a mobile environment. Also,promotions and advertisement may be targeted to instant messaging user(John) 214 and to additional instant messaging users (e.g. user (Robert)306 for the example in FIG. 3) who may have some relationship with user(John) 214 that warranted putting user (John) 214 on their address list.This targeted advertising and promotion overcomes the drawbacks of theknown methods, by providing a beneficial medium for targeted advertisingand can result in real revenue for the business in acquiring customerwho have familiarity with existing customers of the business, in orderto offset the cost of providing the instant messaging service

[0053] While the present invention has been described in connection withexemplary embodiments thereof, those skilled in the art will appreciatethat the invention is not limited to the embodiments described, and thatmodifications of the exemplary embodiments may be made without departingfrom the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Thus, the foregoingdescription is to be regarded as illustrative instead of limiting.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of establishing presence information fora first instant messaging user, wherein said first instant messaginguser possesses a wireless device while at a location of a business, saidwireless device being capable of storing and displaying presenceinformation for said first instant messaging user, comprising: storingbusiness information identifying said business in a business clientsystem device; and retrieving said business information; andtransmitting all or part of said business information as presenceinformation to said wireless device of said first instant messaginguser; whereby said presence information is received by said wirelessdevice of said first instant messaging user.
 2. The method of claim 1comprising: receiving said presence information of said business in saidinstant messaging user wireless device from said business client system,and storing said presence information in said wireless device withoutrequiring manual entry actions on said wireless device by said firstinstant messaging user, wherein an instant messaging client component isinstalled in said wireless device of said first instant messaging user,and said component controls said receiving and storing of said presenceinformation in said wireless device.
 3. The method of claim 2 whereinsaid receiving of said presence information is in response to a singleaction performed by said first instant messaging user.
 4. The method ofclaim 3 wherein the single action is clicking a button.
 5. The method ofclaim 1 comprising the additional step of moving said wireless device ofsaid first instant messaging user within range to permit communicationwith said business client system if said wireless device is out of rangefrom said business client system.
 6. The method of claim 1 wherein saidbusiness information comprises one or more of the following informationitems: the name of said business, a description of said business,promotional information for said business, an advertisement for saidbusiness, and location information of said business.
 7. The method ofclaim 6 wherein said location information of said business comprises oneor more of the following: an address, phone number, directions to saidlocation, email address information of said business, and one or morelinks to Internet websites.
 8. The method of claim 2 wherein one or moreinstant messaging users have created an instant messaging address list,wherein said address list contains the instant messaging identity ofsaid first instant messaging user, whereby said one or more instantmessaging users may view the presence information for said first instantmessaging user; and wherein each of said one or more instant messagingusers have a device wherein said instant messaging client component isinstalled.
 9. The method of claim 8, wherein said first instantmessaging user and said one or more instant messaging users subscribe toan instant messaging service; wherein said instant messaging servicecomprises an instant messaging server.
 10. The method of claim 9comprising the additional step of: transmitting said presenceinformation of said first instant messaging user from said instantmessaging server to said devices of said one or more instant messagingusers.
 11. The method of claim 10 comprising the additional step ofdisplaying said presence information of said first instant messaginguser on said one or more instant messaging user devices.
 12. The methodof claim 11 wherein said displaying includes displaying a selectableicon representing the presence information for said first instantmessaging user.
 13. The method of claim 12 wherein said one or moreinstant messaging users can select said selectable icon and display allor part of said received business information.
 14. The method of claim11 wherein said displaying of said business information includesdisplaying one or more of the following: text; a ticker-type display,wherein said display scrolls; an animation; images; and links to websites on the Internet.
 15. The method of claim 2 comprising theadditional step of: transmitting a user profile of said instantmessaging user from said wireless device of said first instant messaginguser to said business client system.
 16. The method of claim 15 whereinsaid user profile of said first instant messaging user comprises contactinformation of said instant messaging user.
 17. The method of claim 15wherein said first instant messaging user needs to explicitly enablesaid wireless device prior to transmitting said user profile.
 18. Themethod of claim 2 comprising the step of: transmitting said presenceinformation of said first instant messaging user, under control of saidinstant messaging client component, to said instant messaging server ofsaid instant messaging service.
 19. The method of claim 9 wherein theinstant messaging server stores one or more of the following: a businessdatabase, a user database; wherein said presence information of saidfirst instant messaging user is stored; and a database of clickstatistics, wherein said click statistics include statistics of viewingof said presence information.
 20. The method of claim 2 comprising theadditional step of displaying said presence information on said wirelessdevice of said first instant messaging user.
 21. A business clientsystem for sending presence information with advertisement to a wirelessinstant messaging user, comprising: a storage component for storingbusiness information of said business, a business client device furthercomprising: a wireless communication component for transmitting andreceiving data using a wireless protocol; and a transmitting componentto transmit said business information to said wireless instant messaginguser, whereby presence information for said wireless instant messaginguser is updated.
 22. The business client system of claim 21 wherein saidbusiness client device further comprises: a receiving component forreceiving a user profile from said wireless device of said instantmessaging user; and a user database component for storing said userprofile of said instant messaging user.
 23. The business client systemof claim 22 wherein said user profile is sent by said instant messaginguser under control of an instant messaging client component of saidwireless device, after said instant messaging user agrees to furnishsaid user profile.
 24. The business client system of claim 21 whereinsaid business information comprises one or more of the followinginformation items: a introduction to said business, a description ofsaid business, an advertisement for said business, an address of saidbusiness, a phone number of said business, directions to said locationof said business, an email address of said business, and one or morelinks to Internet websites.
 25. The business client system of claim 21further comprising a statistics component to receive and store statisticreports on activity of said instant messaging user in selecting saidbusiness information of said business, wherein said statistic reportsare sent by an instant messaging server of an instant messaging service.26. The business client system of claim 25 wherein said statisticreports are delivered by email or in printed form to said business. 27.The business client system of claim 25 wherein said statistic reportsfrom said instant messaging server comprise information for businessanalysis and measurement of marketing success of said transmittedbusiness information.
 29. A method of advertising comprising sendingpresence information to a visiting instant messaging user who visits abusiness and to one or more instant messaging users who list saidvisitor on an instant messaging address list; and displaying part ofsaid presence information to said visiting instant messaging user and tosaid one or more instant messenger users; wherein said part of saidpresence information includes a link to advertisements for saidbusiness.
 30. The method of claim 29 wherein said link is to other partsof the presence information and includes one or more of the following: ashort text message; a ticker-type display; an animation; images; andlinks to web sites on the Internet.
 31. The method claim 29 wherein saidbusiness sends dynamic updates with additional promotions to saidvisiting instant messaging user and said one or more instant messagingusers.
 32. The method of claim 29 comprising the further step of linkingsaid one or more instant messaging users to a website, wherein saidusers can subscribe to additional information about said business;wherein said subscribing user receives said additional informationregardless of whether said presence information of said visiting instantmessaging user has been updated.
 33. A system for real time instantpresence with advertising comprising: a first instant messaging userwireless device belonging to a first instant messaging user, thatincludes an instant messaging client software component; a device at abusiness location for receiving real time presence information from saidone or more instant messaging user wireless devices and for sendingbusiness information to instant messaging users; wherein said businessinformation includes advertising; one or more additional instantmessaging user devices; each including said instant messaging clientsoftware component; wherein each of said additional instant messaginguser devices has an instant messaging address list containing theinstant messaging identity of said first instant messaging user, whereinsaid address list is controlled by said additional instant messagingusers and the presence information displayed for said members of saidaddress list is under control of said instant messaging client software;and an instant messaging server; wherein said instant messaging servercommunicates over the Internet with said business device, said firstinstant messaging user wireless device and said additional instantmessaging user devices.
 34. The system of claim 33 wherein said presenceinformation of said first instant messaging user is sent from an instantmessaging server to said additional instant messaging user devices viathe Internet.
 35. The system of claim 33 wherein said first instantmessaging user wireless device transmits said presence information ofsaid first instant messaging user, under control of said instantmessaging client component, to said instant messaging server via theInternet.
 36. The system of claim 33 wherein said instant messagingserver stores one or more of the following: a business database, a userdatabase; and a database of click statistics, wherein statistic reportsare generated.
 37. The system of claim 36 wherein said business deviceincludes a statistics component, whereby statistics are sent from saidinstant messaging server database to said business device and stored fordisplay and analysis of the effectiveness of said advertising of saidbusiness.
 38. An instant messaging software client method comprising thesteps of. in response to an action performed by a first instantmessaging user on a wireless device of said first instant messaginguser, enabling acceptance of data transmissions from a first businessdevice using a single action on said wireless device; wherein said firstinstant messaging user is a member of an address list of one or moreadditional instant messaging users and said additional instant messagingusers have one or more devices for instant messaging, controlling saidinstant messaging functions including address lists of said firstinstant messaging user and said additional instant messaging users basedon inputs received from said instant messaging server over the Internet;transmitting said presence information of said first instant messaginguser to an instant messaging server via the Internet; receiving aselection action from said first instant messaging user that enables ordisables transmitting of a user profile from said wireless device ofsaid first instant messaging user; and if said transmittal of said userprofile is enabled, whereby said instant messaging user agrees tofurnish said user profile, then transmitting said user profile of saidfirst instant messaging user from said wireless device to said businessdevice.